Dual tone margin signal for typewriters

ABSTRACT

A margin signal for typewriters is disclosed comprising a plurality of frame supported resonating elements that cooperate with a plurality of frame supported hammer members and are acted upon by an actuating means supported on a movable carriage. As the carriage traverses, the actuating means trips the hammer members in sequence which sequentially impact on the resonating elements thereby effecting a plurality of sequential audible signals of varied modulation to indicate to the operator that the end of line-of-write is approaching.

United States Patent [19] Lohr 1 1 June 3,1975

[ DUAL TONE MARGlN SIGNAL FOR TYPEWRITERS [52] US. Cl 197/192; 116/148[51] Int. Cl B41j 29/46 [58] Field of Search 197/63, 70, 107, 108, 109,197/110,111,112,l87,192;116/l48,149, 152,155,156,157,163,164,167,169

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 510,653 12/1893 Sinclair197/192 X 571,757 11/1896 Farnum 197/192 X 656,768 8/1900 Fleck 116/156704,289 7/1902 Augir 116/148 1,005,782 10/1911 Raber 197/192 1,193,0728/1916 Roebuck et a1 197/110 1,253,662 1/1918 Adams et al 116/1481,433,702 10/1922 Corcoran 197/192 1,434,045 10/1922 Corcoran 197/1102,177,067 10/1939 Huenlich 197/192 X 2,549,157 4/1951 Auth et a1 116/164X Primary E.\'aminerErnest T. Wright, Jr. Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Stanley J. Klem; Milton M. Wolson, Esq.

[57] ABSTRACT A margin signal for typewriters is disclosed comprising aplurality of frame supported resonating elements that cooperate with aplurality of frame supported hammer members and are acted upon by anactuating means supported on a movable carriage. As the carriagetraverses, the actuating means trips the hammer members in sequencewhich sequentially impact on the resonating elements thereby effecting aplurality of sequential audible signals of varied modulation to indicateto the operator that the end of line-of-write is appreaching.

3 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure DUAL TONE MARGIN SIGNAL FOR TYPEWRITERSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to typewriters andmore particularly to margin signals for indicating that the end ofline-of-write of a typewritten sheet is approaching.

Desirable features of margin signals for typewriters are audibility,compact design, and resonance, and to a great extent these requirementshave been met. However, present margin signals in typewriters aredeficient in that most typewriters have a single emitted signal forindicating the approach of the end of line-of-write. Consequently, inmany areas, a noisy environment would make it difficult to hear thesignal. Furthermore, in most offices, the signal emitted would besimilar to other sounds and signals in the area where many businessmachines may be located and it may be difficult to easily differentiatebetween the margin signal and the surrounding signals.

Other margin signals utilize visual signals that are primarily designedfor persons with hearing deficiencies. It would be a distraction for atypist without a hearing deficiency, who normally only views the writtenmaterial that she is typing and who rarely looks at the character keyson the sheet being typed to draw her attention to a margin signal lightSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a dual tonesignalling device for typewriters and includes a pair of co-axiallymounted resonating elements in a telescopic relationship and a pair ofcooperating hammer elements, both of which are horizontally supported ona frame. The hammer elements are sequentially actuated by an actuatingmeans supported on a margin stop that is slideably mounted on a movablepaper supporting carriage. The actuated hammer elements sequentiallyimpact the resonating elements whereby a plurality of sequential audiblesignals is produced to indicate to the operator that the end of aline-of-write is approaching.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a marginsignalling means for a typewriter that emits a plurality of tones insequence and ofa modulation substantially different from the toneemitted by conventional typewriter signals. such as a bell.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a marginsignalling means for a typewriter that emits a plurality of tones ofdifferent modulation.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a marginsignalling means for typewriters that emits a plurality of tones insequence wherein the time between signal tones and the end ofline-of-write may be varied.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will becomemore apparent from the following de scription, appended claims andaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The DRAWING is a perspective view ofthe front of a typewriter showing the margin signal mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawingwhere one part of the embodiment is supported on a typewriter frame 12and cooperates with a second part supported on a mmahlc carriage 13 thatis mounted for reciprocating movement on the frame 12.

The margin signal device includes a first tubular resonating element 9horizontally fixed against frame 12 at its closed end 14. A secondtubular resonating element is co-axially supported within, and incontact at its closed end 15 with, resonating element 9. Element 10, ofdifferent modulation, is of lesser diameter but of greater length thanelement 9 so that an open end 18 of element 10 extends beyond an openend 11 of element 9.

A pair of L-shaped hammer bellcranks 20 and 22 are pivotally supportedabout a common pivot 24 on frame 12 and independently biased in aclockwise direction by frame supported extension springs 26 and 28. Apair of integral actuating arms 30 and 32 of hammer bellcranks 20 and 22having sloped ends extend upwards from pivot 24 and are of unequallengths to permit sequential actuation by an actuating means to effect aplurality of sequential audible signals.

Extending laterally from pivot 24 are thin flexible arms 34 and 36 ofbellcranks 20 and 22 that terminate in downward extending hammer members38 and 40. Hammer members 38 and 40 are at rest when aligned immediatelyabove and spaced from resonating elements 9 and 10 respectively andsupported in their rest position by arms 34 and 36 resting on a frameextension abutment 42.

A bellcrank 44 is pivotally supported about a pivot 46 on a conventionalmargin stop bracket 48 slideably supported on a margin rack 50 that isrigidly mounted on movable carriage l3. Bellcrank 44 includes an upperextension 52 and a lower extension 54 having an upper slot 56 and alower slot 58 at their respective ends.

A margin stop 49 projects down from margin stop bracket 48 with its pathof traverse in alignment with a fixed carriage stop 47. Therefore, whenthe margin stop bracket 48 is adjusted to a desired position on marginrack 50 and the carriage 13 traverses the frame 12, margin stop 49 abutscarriage stop 47, at which time further movement of carriage 13 isarrested thereby determining the end of line-of-write.

An actuator 60 is pivotally supported on bellcrank 44 off center of itslength about a pivot 62 which is slideable within slot 58 of bellcrank44. The ends of actuator 60 terminate in an actuator tab 64 and a stoptab 66 that abuts the underside of margin stop bracket 48 and a lateralportion 67 that abuts a forward extension 68 of margin stop bracket 48to limit the counterclockwise rotation of actuator 60.

An adjustment lever 70 is pivotally supported on the underside of acontrol knob 72 and contoured to inelude an upstanding tab 74 and a tab76 which projects through slot 56 of upper extension 52.

During typewriter operation, carriage movement occurs each time akeybutton (not shown) is depressed to print a desired character,whereupon. through linkage, a carriage coupled escapement mechanism (notshown) is disengaged to allow the carriage 13 to move longitudinallyfrom right to left a predetermined distance.

In the present invention, margin stop bracket 48 is manually adjusted toa position on carriage rack 50 corresponding to the desired right handmargin setting. As typing continues, the carriage 13 moves progressivelyleftwards until actuator tab 64 engages actuating arms 30 and 32.Consequently. hammer bellcranks and 22 are pivoted counterclockwiseabout pivot 24 thereby raising hammer bellcranks 20 and 22 out ofcontact with frame abutment 42 to a striking position. As carriage l3continues its lateral movement. actuator tab 64 slideably andsequentially disengagcs from hammer bellcrank actuating arms and 32. Asa result, hammer bellcranks 20 and 22 are sequentially released fromtheir firing position and arms 34 and 36 sequentially contact frameabutment 42 and then deflect downward about frame abutment 42 due to theinertia of the hammer members 38 and 40 and the flexibility of arms 34and 36 to sequentially strike resonating elements 9 and 10 to effectsequential audible signals of variable modulation indicating that theend ofa line-ofwrite is approaching. Hammer bellcranks 20 and 22 thenrelax to the rest position on frame abutment 42 whereby hammer members38 and 40 are again in spaced relationship with resonating elements 9and 10. Actuating arms 30 and 32 extend upwards into the path of travelof actuator tab 64 so as carriage 13 is returned to its extreme rightposition for subsequent typing, actuator tab 64 abuts arms 30 and 32 andis deflected to pivot clockwise about pivot 62 until arms 30 and 32slide free of actuator tab 64. Adjustment of the distance between thesequential signals and the end of line-of-write is accomplished bymanually pivoting adjustment control lever 70 clockwise orcounterclockwise to pivot bellcrank 44 and urge actuator laterally. Thelateral movement of actuator 60 varies the distance between tab 64 andmargin stop 49 which in turn varies the distance between the sequentialsignals and the end of line-of-write.

Consequently, the distance between the sequence of signals and the endof line-of-write will be varied.

While the foregoing description has shown and described the fundamentalnovel features as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that modifications embodied invarious forms may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An audible signal mechanism for indicating the end of a line-of-writein a typewriter having a frame including an abutment and a carriagesupported on the justment lever by a motion transmitting meanstherebetween;

a pair of L-shaped actuable members pivotally supported about a secondpivot on the frame comprising. a plurality of rigid arms extendingupwards of said second pivot into the path of said actuator forengagement and disengagement by said actuator when said actuatortraverses the frame, a plurality of flexible arms terminating in aplurality of hammer members and extending laterally of said second pivotfor contacting the frame abutment and deflecting beyond the frameabutment when said rigid arms are engaged and disengaged by saidactuator; and

a first resonating element horizontally supported on the frame and asecond resonating element coaxially supported within said firstresonating element with a portion of said second resonating elementprojecting from said first resonating element, said resonating elementspositioned below said hammer members for sequentially striking by saidhammer members for effecting a plurality of sequential audible signalsfor indicating the end of line-of write.

2. An audible signal mechanism for indicating the end of a line-of-writein a typewriter having a frame including an abutment and a carriagesupported on the frame and movable relative to the frame, a carriagerack fixed on the movable carriage and a margin stop adjustablysupported on the carriage and movable relative to the carriagecomprising:

actuating means pivotally supported on the margin stop and adjustablerelative to the margin stop;

a pair of actuatable members pivotally supported on the frame, saidactuatable members having rigid portions extending into the path of saidactuating means in staggered relationship for engagement anddisengagement by said actuating means when the carriage traverses theframe and flexible portions extending laterally for contacting the frameabutment and deflecting beyond the frame abutment when said rigidportions are engaged and disengaged by said actuating means; and

a pair of resonating elements laterally supported on the frame forsequentially striking by said flexible portions for effecting aplurality of sequential audible signals for indicating the end ofline-of-write.

3. An audible signal mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein saidactuating means is laterally adjustable for sequentially engaging saidactuatable members when the carriage traverses the frame.

1. An audible signal mechanism for indicating the end of a lineof-writein a typewriter having a frame including an abutment and a carriagesupported on the frame and movable relative to the frame, a carriagerack fixed on the movable carriage and a margin stop adjustablysupported on the carriage and movable relative to the carriagecomprising: an actuator assembly pivotally supported about a first pivoton the margin stop including an adjustment lever pivotally supported ona knob of the margin stop and an adjustable actuator coupled to saidadjustment lever by a motion transmitting means therebetween; a pair ofL-shaped actuable members pivotally supported about a second pivot onthe frame comprising, a plurality of rigid arms extending upwards ofsaid second pivot into the path of said actuator for engagement anddisengagement by said actuator when said actuator traverses the frame, aplurality of flexible arms terminating in a plurality of hammer membersand extending laterally of said second pivot for contacting the frameabutment and deflecting beyond the frame abutment when said rigid armsare engaged and disengaged by said actuator; and a first resonatingelement horizontally supported on the frame and a second resonatingelement co-axially supported within said first resonating element with aportion of said second resonating element projecting from said firstresonating element, said resonating elements positioned below saidhammer members for sequentially striking by said hammer members foreffecting a plurality of sequential audible signals for indicating theend of line-of write.
 1. An audible signal mechanism for indicating theend of a line-of-write in a typewriter having a frame including anabutment and a carriage supported on the frame and movable relative tothe frame, a carriage rack fixed on the movable carriage and a marginstop adjustably supported on the carriage and movable relative to thecarriage comprising: an actuator assembly pivotally supported about afirst pivot on the margin stop including an adjustment lever pivotallysupported on a knob of the margin stop and an adjustable actuatorcoupled to said adjustment lever by a motion transmitting meanstherebetween; a pair of L-shaped actuable members pivotally supportedabout a second pivot on the frame comprising, a plurality of rigid armsextending upwards of said second pivot into the path of said actuatorfor engagement and disengagement by said actuator when said actuatortraverses the frame, a plurality of flexible arms terminating in aplurality of hammer members and extending laterally of said second pivotfor contacting the frame abutment and deflecting beyond the frameabutment when said rigid arms are engaged and disengaged by saidactuator; and a first resonating element horizontally supported on theframe and a second resonating element co-axially supported within saidfirst resonating element with a portion of said second resonatingelement projecting from said first resonating element, said resonatingelements positioned below said hammer members for sequentially strikingby said hammer members for effecting a plurality of sequential audiblesignals for indicating the end of line-of write.
 2. An audible signalmechanism for indicating the end of a line-of-write in a typewriterhaving a frame including an abutment and a carriage supported on theframe and movable relative to the frame, a carriage rack fixed on themovable carriage and a margin stop adjustably supported on the carriageand movable relative to the carriage comprising: actuating meanspivotally supported on the margin stop and adjustable relative to themargin stop; a pair Of actuatable members pivotally supported on theframe, said actuatable members having rigid portions extending into thepath of said actuating means in staggered relationship for engagementand disengagement by said actuating means when the carriage traversesthe frame and flexible portions extending laterally for contacting theframe abutment and deflecting beyond the frame abutment when said rigidportions are engaged and disengaged by said actuating means; and a pairof resonating elements laterally supported on the frame for sequentiallystriking by said flexible portions for effecting a plurality ofsequential audible signals for indicating the end of line-of-write.